HPD: Busy robber pulls 17 heists since August

Police are searching for a man who is suspected of robbing 12 businesses -- some more than once -- in the Houston area since August, stealing cigarettes and cash.

The suspect usually targeted service stations in the west and north sections of Houston, according to the Houston Police Department. He walked into the stores and posed as a customer. In some of the robberies, he selected a drink and took it to the checkout counter.

Once at the counter, police said, he pulled out a black semi-automatic gun and took money from the cash register and cigarettes.

Police said the man is described as black, about 6 feet tall and weighs about 180 pounds. He had a full beard and mustache. He wore sunglasses and a baseball cap or hooded sweatshirt. At most of the robberies he was seen leaving in a black two-door Fiat.